WASHINGTON—Democrats mostly agree that President Donald Trump deserves to be impeached. What they disagree on is whether they should actually do it.The debate that has simmered for more than a year intensified again this week after special counsel Robert Mueller outlined a case that Trump may have committed obstruction of justice. Prominent party figures, notably presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren, say the evidence demands an impeachment push no matter what the political consequences.But senior officials, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, are noncommittal. They are wary of damaging their 2020 election chances, concerned that a president with a talent for playing martyr might be able to use even a preliminary impeachment effort to energize his own voters.Pelosi wants Democrats to conduct an additional investigation without convening official impeachment hearings, but some members of her caucus want hearings to begin imminently.Polls suggest that significantly more Democratic voters favour impeachment than oppose it, but the idea is unpopular with independent as well as Republican voters. And the issue rarely comes up at Democratic campaign events, suggesting to some strategists that it is not a top priority for a party base that’s excited about the upcoming opportunity to vote Trump out.Among the party’s presidential candidates, Sen. Kamala Harris joined Warren on Monday in calling for impeachment proceedings. But Sen. Amy Klobuchar and South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg did not take firm positions at their own CNN events, while Sen. Bernie Sanders expressed unease that a focus on impeachment — rather than health care, wages and racism — could work “to Trump’s advantage.”The Star contacted 25 Democratic county chairs from around the country on Monday. Of the 12 who returned messages, seven said they opposed impeachment, four said Democrats should gather more evidence before proceeding, and just o ...
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